Flap-closing device for cartons.



P. B. MARTIN.

FLAP CLOSING DEVICE FOR. GARTONS. APPLICATION FILED JUNE 12. 1912 1,1 19,09 1 Patented Dec. 1; 19 14.

UNITED STATES PATENT OEFIGE.

' FRANK B. MARTIN, or BATTLE CREEK, MICHIGAN, ssIGNon To POST-UM CEREAL 00., LIMITED, or BATTLE GREEK, MICHIGAN, A PARTNERSHIP AS SOCIATION LIMITED,

OF MICHIGAN,

To all whom it may concern Be it'known: that I, FRANK B. MARTIN, of Battle Creek, Michigan, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Flap- Clos'ing Devices for Cartons, which invention is fully set forth in the following specification.

The present invention relates to cartonclosing devices, and the particular object of the present invention is'to provide an improved structure for folding the end flaps of cartons. i

' By the use'of the improved device which embodies an intermittently rotating" folding mechanism, the rear-:end flap of each carton is folded in under the front end flap, with the result that all danger of the rear end flap being caught-by the mechanism for gluing and sealing the cartons is ob- Viated; V Theinvention will-be better understood by reference to the accompanying drawing, Wherein- Figure 1 is a transverse section, partly in elevation, of a carton conveying machine-provided with the improved device, looking in the direction of feed of the cartons, Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the rear end flap folding mechanism and its actuating parts; and Fig. 3 is a perspective view, showing'the device for folding the front end flap over thelrear end flap.

- Referring to the drawings, 4, 4, are feed belts or conveyers which carry the filled cartons, and f5-5 are tracks or ways onto which the cartons are shifted laterally by any suitable mechanism, notshovvn. Assoeiated with these tracks-or ways are followers ($-6, which arecarried -by any suitable means. as endless chain 7.' These followers 6 engage the cartons and progress them past the improved end flap sealing mechanism, to be described, and then to any suitable gluing and sealing devices.

Thefreiai' "end flap folding mechanism comprises a shaft 8, here shown as mounted in brackets 9 suitably-secured to the frame ofthe machine, which: shaft is intermittently driverr bysuitable mechanism.- As herein illiistratedffagear 0 is mounte'd on Specification of Letters Patent.

finger 20 FLAP-CLOSING )DEVICE FOR cARToNs.-

flfatented Dec. 1, 1914.

Application ii1ed June'12, 1912. Serial No. 703,246.

per end of said lever, and the other end of said rod. is eccentrically connected to a rotaryxmember 1 8' which is driven by any suitable mechanism.

The front end flap folding device is preferably a stationary plate 18, which is suitably secured to the frame of the machine, and themeans that engage the rear. end flaps of theicartonc to fold the same are preferably a plurality of arms 19, suitably secured to shaft 8 and emu-distantly spaced, each of said arms being provided with a projecting at right angles there' from. H p i The operation-of the-device is as fol 'lows:-The mechanism is so 'timed that as each carton approaches the end flap folding devices, one of the a ms 19 is rotated into engagementwith the rearend flap and folds the same, this movement of the arm being caused b y the engagement of pawl 16 with one of the teeth of ratchet 14, Then said ratchetdias been rotated by the pawl to the limit of the forward movement of the latter; the positive driving of shaft 8 ceases, and it momentarily becomes stationary, as does the arn'l that is in engagement with the rear efn'd fla p of the-carton, said arm at this time holding down said flap. The movement qf" the ca'1"ton='continues during this momentary stopping'of the arm which is engagement with the flap. Byi'reason of-the friction'al engagement between the arm and'the flaps, the continued movement of the carton carries {with itthe engaging arm; thus insuring that the front end fla shall be folde'd over the rear end flap the" folding plate 18. Thereafter: thepawl Ni-isagain-in position to rotate shafts'13 and 8 by engaging the next tooth on ratchet 14:, and the foregoing operation is repeated, the succeeding rotary arm 19 engaging the rear end flap on the next carton.

What is claimed is 1. In combination, a continuously-moving carton conveyer, a front flap folding device, a rear flap folding device, means for moving said latter device into engagement with the rear flap and holding said device substantially stationary while the carton acted upon is moved by said conveyer relatively to said device.

2. In combination, a continuously-moving carton conveyer, a front flap folding device, a rear flap foldingdevice, means for rotat ing said latter device into engagement with the rear flap and holding said device substantially stationary and in engagement with said rear flap while the carton acted upon is moved by said conveyer relatively to said device.

3. In combination, a front flap-folding device, a rear flap-folding device, a continuously-moving carton conveyer carrying cartons past said folding devices, a continuously-moving element, and connections between said element and said rear flap-folding device whereby the latter is operated intermittently and is stationary while acting in cooperation with the conveyer upon the carton.

4. In combination, a front flap-folding device, a rear flap-folding device, a continuously-moving carton conveyercarry ng cartons past said folding devices, a continuously-rotating element, and connections between said element and said rear flap-folding device whereby the latter is operated intermittently and is, stationary while acting in coiiperation with the conveyer upon the carton.

5. In combination, a front flap folding device, a rear flap folding device, a continuously rotating driving element, an element intermittently rotating in only one direction, connections between said rear flap-folding device and said intermittently rotating ele- 'ment, and driving connections between'said continuously rotating element and said intermittently rotating element;

6. In combination, a front flap folding device,

a rear flap folding device, a continuously moving element, an element intermittently moving in only. one direction, connections between said rear flapfolding device and said intermittently moving element, and driving connections between said continuously moving element and said intermittently moving element.

7. In combination, a front flap folding device, a rear flap folding device rotating only in .one direction, a'continuously rotat ing element, a shaft, a ratchet fixedly mount ed thereon, a lever loosely mounted on said shaft, a pawl carried by said lever, connections between said rear flap folding device and said shaft, and connections between said lever and element. a

8. In combination, a front flap folding device, a rear flap folding device rotating only in one direction, a continuously moving element, a shaft, a ratchet fixedly mounted thereon, a lever loosely mounted on said shaft, a pawl carried by said lever, connections between said rear flap folding device 10. In combination, a carton conveyer, a

front flap folding device, a rear flap folding device rotating only in one direction, a shaft, connections between said shaft and the rear flap folding device, a ratchet fixedly mounted on said shaft, a lever loosely mounted on said shaft, a pawl carried by said lever and engaging said ratchet, and means for rocking said lever to rotate said shaft. 7

11. In combination, a front flap-folding device, a rear flap-folding device, a continuously-moving carton conveyer carrying cartons past said folding devices, and means intermittently operating said rear flap-folding device which remains stationary while acting. in cooperation with the conveyer upon the carton.

12. In combination, a front flap-folding device, a rear flap-folding device provided with a plurality of arms, a continuouslymoving carton conveyer carrying cartons past said folding devices, and means intermittently moving said arms into engagement with the rear flaps of the cartons on said conveyer, said arms remaining stationary while actin in cooperation with the conveyer upon t e carton.

13. In combination, a front flap-folding device, a rear flap-folding device provided with a plurality of arms, a continuouslymoving carton conveyer carrying cartons pastsaid folding devices, and means intermittently rotating said arms into engagement with the rear flaps of the cartons on said conveyer, saidarms remaining stationary while acting in cooperation vwith the conveyer upon the carton.

14. In a device of the character described, the combination of'a continuously-moving ,conveyer adapted to carry a stream of cartons, a front flap-folding device, a rear flap- In testimony whereof I have signed this folding device, and means intermittently enspecification in the presence of two subscribg aging said year flap-folding device with ing witnesses. I

the rear flaps of the cartons, said rear fiap- FRANK B.v MARTIN. 5 folding device remaining stationajrywhile Witnesses:

acting in cooperation with the conveyor ARTHUR B. WILLIAMS,

upon the cartons. v VERN D. SUTTON. 

